THE alleged victim in a religiously aggravated assault trial told a court he had a dummy placed in his mouth by a manager - who he claims was upset that £1,000 found during a bank refit was handed into police.

Being cross-examined by Steven Crossley, representing defendant Andrew Addison, 31, the alleged victim said: "I found £1,000 in a draw and handed it back in.

"I think that antagonised them and that's why they tied me to the chair."

Asked by Mr Crossley if that was the real reason they had tied up the youngster, the teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, replied: "I don't know why he was upset otherwise."

A picture of the alleged victim with a dummy in his mouth was shown to the jury and Mr Crossley put it to the teenager that he had gone along with the whole incident.

The alleged victim said: "I was asked by Andrew Addison. He said put the dummy in your mouth and we'll take a photo because it's funny.

"It shows me putting up with something so nothing else would happen to me because if I ever disagreed with something, it would come back to me ten-fold.

"If I hadn't put it in my mouth the duct tape would have been next.

"If I put it in my mouth it wouldn't give them the opportunity to do it."

Earlier during cross-examination, York Crown Court heard the teenager told police the trauma resulting from the alleged bullying had led him to become a gambling addict.

In a statement made to police the teenager said: "I started gambling when the incidents escalated and have now become an addictive gambler, getting myself into debt."

Asked by Mr Crossley if he gambled before July 2014, the youngster said: "I might have had the odd £10 or £20 bet but it was never as serious an issues as it is now.

"This was nothing to what I lost while I was suffering. I don't say DIS (Direct Interior Solutions) turned me into the worst gambler in the world, it just started from there."

Addison, from Selby denies one count of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment, and two counts of racially aggravated assault by beating.

Rose, of Bubwith, Jackson of Barlby, and Puchir of Edinburgh deny one count of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment, and one count of racially aggravated assault by beating.

The trial continues.